Interchangeable hand tool and handle therefor

Abstract

The hand tool has an interchangeable handle member with a particular coupling mechanism. The tool comprises a tool member fixedly disposed at one end of a ferrule member having a socket portion open to receive the tool end section of the handle member. The handle member includes the tool end section at one end thereof and a hand gripping section toward the other end thereof. The tool end section is elongate and extends into the socket portion and includes an outer surface having an inner end and an outer end. A shock absorbing mechanism is located intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tool end section along the outer surface thereof. The shock absorbing mechanism is effective to provide a tightened fit between the ferrule member and the tool end section when the ferrule member is slidingly displaced over the outer surface of the tool end section. While the coupling mechanism between the tool end section and the ferrule member is adaptable to any type of handle, the specific embodiment includes a composite structure having a core member with a molded plastic outer coating over the core member. The hand gripping section is oval-shaped in cross-section with the major axis thereof in a plane which extends through the longitudinal central axis of the handle member and thereby extends symmetrically through a tool disposed thereon. A particular connecting assembly including a fixture used in combination with a shank portion of a tool is used to fixedly disposed the tool in an outer working end of the ferrule member.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hand tool having an interchangeable handle member, said tool comprising: (a) a tool member fixedly disposed at one end of a ferrule member,   (b) the handle member including a tool end section at one end thereof and a hand gripping section toward the other end thereof;   (c) the ferrule member including a socket portion open at the other end thereof to receive the tool end section of the handle member;   (d) said tool end section being elongate to extend into the socket portion and including an outer circumferential surface having an inner end and an outer end,   (e) shock absorbing means located intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tool end section along said outer circumferential surface,   (f) said shock absorbing means being effective to provide a tightened fit between the ferrule member and the tool end section when the ferrule member is slidingly displaced over the outer circumferential surface of the tool end section, and   (g) said shock absorbing means includes a resilient ring member movable along the outer circumferential surface of the tool end section.   
     
     
       2. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the tool end section includes an outer end abutment means to maintain the ring member on said tool end section.   
     
     
       3. A tool as defined in claim 2 wherein the outer end abutment means comprises a circumferential flange located at the outer end of the tool end section.   
     
     
       4. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the tool end section includes releaseable locking means having a manually actuatable member to release the ferrule member for removal of the ferrule member from the tool end section.   
     
     
       5. A tool as defined in claim 4 wherein the ferrule member includes an aperture and the actuatable member comprises a button element biassed outwardly from said outer circumferential surface to protrude through said aperture when said aperture is registered over said button element once the ferrule member is in a final operating position over said tool end section.   
     
     
       6. A tool as defined in claim 5 wherein said button element is movably disposed in a recess formed in the outer circumferential surface of the tool end section.   
     
     
       7. A tool as defined in claim 1 wherein the ferrule member includes tool member securing means located at said one end thereof to fixedly hold the tool member in place.   
     
     
       8. A tool as defined in claim 7 wherein said tool member securing means includes a fixture assembly for centering a shank portion of the tool member and epoxy resin material disposed around the fixture and shank portion within the ferrule member.   
     
     
       9. A hand tool having an interchangeable handle member, said tool comprising: (a) a tool member fixedly disposed at one end of a ferrule member,   (b) the handle member including a tool end section at one end thereof and a hand gripping section toward the other end thereof,   (c) the ferrule member including a socket portion open at the other end thereof to receive the tool end section of the handle member,   (d) said tool end section being elongate to extend into the socket portion and including an outer circumferential surface having an inner end and an outer end,   (e) shock absorbing means located intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tool end section along said outer circumferential surface,   (f) said shock absorbing means being effective to provide a tightened fit between the ferrule member and the tool end section when the ferrule member is slidingly displaced over the outer circumferential surface of the tool end section, and   (g) said shock absorbing means includes a first resilient ring member defining a seating means at an inner end portion of the tool end section and a second resilient ring member movably disposed along an outer end portion of the tool end section to define a compressible ferrule tightening means.   
     
     
       10. A tool as defined in claim 9 wherein said first and second resilient ring members comprises O-rings composed of compressible material.   
     
     
       11. A tool as defined in claim 9 wherein said outer end portion is tapered inwardly toward the outer end of the tool end section with said second resilient ring member being an O-ring disposed therealong, and   the first resilient ring member is an O-ring composed of compressible material and disposed in a circumferential grove formed in the outer circumferential surface of the tool section.   
     
     
       12. A hand tool having an interchangeable handle member, said tool comprising: (a) a tool member fixedly disposed at one end of a ferrule member,   (b) the handle member including a tool end section at one end thereof and a hand gripping section toward the other end thereof,   (c) the ferrule member including a socket portion open at the other end thereof to receive the tool end section of the handle member,   (d) said tool end section being elongate to extend into the socket portion and including an outer circumferential surface having an inner end and an outer end,   (e) shock absorbing means located intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tool end section along said outer surface,   (f) said shock absorbing means being effective to provide a tightened fit between the ferrule member and the tool end section when the ferrule member is slidingly displaced over the outer surface of the tool end section,   (g) the tool end section includes releasable locking means for fixing the position of the ferrule in position once the elongate tool end section is firmly extended into the socket portion,   (h) the releaseable locking means includes a button element pivotally disposed in an elongate recess formed in said outer surface of the tool end section and biassing means located onto the tool end section to urge one end of the button element outwardly with respect to the tool end section,   (i) the biassing means includes an O-ring located in a circumferential groove and spanning the elongate recess,   (j) said button element having one end attached to said spanning O-ring which urges said one end of the button element outwardly from the outside surface of the tool end section.   
     
     
       13. A hand tool having an interchangeable handle member, said tool comprising: (a) a tool member fixedly disposed at one end of a ferrule member,   (b) the handle member including a tool end section at one end thereof and a hand gripping section toward the other end thereof,   (c) the ferrule member including a socket port at the other end thereof to receive the tool end section of the handle member,   (d) said tool end section being elongate to extend into the socket portion and including an outer circumferential surface having an inner end and an outer end,   (e) shock absorbing means located intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tool end section along said outer surface,   (f) said shock absorbing means being effective to provide a tightened fit between the ferrule member and the tool end section when the ferrule member is slidingly displaced over the outer surface of the tool end section,   (g) the ferrule member includes tool member securing means located at said one end thereof to fixedly hold the tool member in place,   (h) said tool member securing means includes a fixture assembly for centering a shank portion of the tool member and epoxy resin material disposed around the fixture and shank portion within the ferrule member.   (i) said tool member securing means includes mechanical locking means for holding the epoxy resin in place when said resin is in a hardened condition.   
     
     
       14. A hand tool assembly comprising: (a) a ferrule member having a tool member securing end for receiving a shank portion of a tool member, and a socket portion for receiving the tool end section of a handle member, and   (b) a fixture assembly for centering said shank portion of a tool member within the tool member securing end of the ferrule,   (c) said fixture aassembly including sealing means located around the entire assembly to prevent liquid adhesive means for leaking past the assembly once the assembly is in place within the tool member securing end,   (d) said fixture assembly includes a base, a plurality of leg elements pivotally attached to the base, and guide means for setting the location of the leg elements in an upright position with respect to the base.   
     
     
       15. An assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein each leg element has a tool shank facing surface directed inwardly toward a longitudinal axis thereof and a ferrule facing surface directed outwardly away from said longitudinal axis;   said leg elements are effective to maintain a tool shank portion in a center position with respect to the ferrule member, and   said base member has an abutment surface means for contacting a free end surface of a tool shank portion when the shank portion is inserted along said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
       16. An assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein the ferrule member includes mechanical locking means for holding the adhesive means in place when said adhesive means is in a hardened condition,   said ferrule member has an inner surface that is substantially conically shaped and tapers outwardly from its longitudinal axis toward the open socket portion thereof.   
     
     
       17. An assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said mechanical locking means includes projections extending inwardly from the inner surface of the ferrule member toward its said longitudinal axis   
     
     
       18. A hand tool assembly comprising: (a) a ferrule member having a tool member securing end for receiving a shank portion of a tool member, and a socket portion for receiving the tool end section of a handle member, and   (b) a fixture assembly for centering said shank portion of a tool member within the tool member securing end of the ferrule,   (c) said fixture assembly including sealing means located around the entire assembly to prevent liquid adhesive means from leaking past the assembly once the assembly is in place within the tool member securing end,   (d) said fixture assembly including a base, a plurality of leg elements pivotally attached to the base, and guide means for setting the location of the leg elements in an upright position with respect to the base,   (e) the base including a circumferential surface, and   (f) said sealing means is disposed along said circumferential surface to prevent the fluid adhesive means from leaking between the base and the ferrule member when the fixture assembly is in an operative position in the ferrule member for receiving a tool shank portion therein.   
     
     
       19. An assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein the sealing means comprises a resilient O-ring member disposed around said circumferential surface.   
     
     
       20. A hand tool handle for a tool including a ferrule member having a socket portion open at one end thereof, said handle comprising: (a) a handle member including a tool end section at one end thereof and a hand gripping section toward the other end thereof,   (b) said tool end section being elongate to extend into the socket portion and including an outer surface having an inner end and an outer end,   (c) compressible shock absorbing means located intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tool end section along said outer surface,   (d) said shock absorbing means being effective to provide a tightened fit between the ferrule member and the tool end section when the ferrule member is slidingly displaced over the outer surface of the tool end section,   (e) said shock absorbing means includes a compressible ferrule seating means located on said outer surface at an inner end portion of the tool end section and a compressible ferrule tightening means adjustably disposed at a location laterally displaced from said seating means toward the outer end of the tool end section,   (f) said compressible ferrule tightening means includes a resilient ring means movably disposed along a longitudinal length of said outer circumferential surface.   
     
     
       21. A tool handle as defined in claim 20 wherein the resilient ring means comprises an O-ring composed of compressible material, and   the tool end section includes an outer end abutment means to maintain the ring member on said tool end section.   
     
     
       22. A tool handle as defined in claim 21 wherein the outer circumferential surface of the tool end section tapers inwardly toward the outer end thereof, and   said outer end abutment means comprises a circumferential flange located at the outer end of the tool end section.   
     
     
       23. A tool handle as defined in claim 22 wherein said tapered out circumferential surface is substantially circular in cross-section to form a conically shaped portion along said tool end section ending at said circumferential flange.   
     
     
       24. A tool handle as defined in claim 20 wherein the tool end section includes releasable locking means for fixing the position of the ferrule once the elongate tool end section is firmly extended into the socket portion.   
     
     
       25. A tool handle as defined in claim 24 wherein the releasable locking means includes a button element pivotally disposed in an elongate recess formed in said outer circumferential surface of the tool end section and biassing means located on the tool end section to urge one end of the button element outwardly with respect to the tool end section.   
     
     
       26. A tool handle as defined in claim 20 wherein said inner end of the tool end section is defined by a circumferential shoulder against which shoulder the ferrule member abuts when said ferrule member is in a final operating position along said outer circumferential surface.   
     
     
       27. A tool handle as defined in claim 20 wherein said handle member comprises a composite structure including a core member having a molded plastic outer coating over the core member.   
     
     
       28. A tool handle as defined in claim 27 wherein said hand gripping section is oval-shaped in cross-section with the major axis thereof in a plane which extends through the longitudinal central axis of the handle member and thereby extends symmetrically through a tool disposed thereon.   
     
     
       29. A tool handle as defined in claim 28 wherein the core member is hollow. 
     
     
       30. A tool handle as defined in claim 29 wherein the core member has an outer wall with a substantially uniform thickness around the entire periphery of the cross-section thereof and is composed of a strand material encased in a resinous material.   
     
     
       31. A hand tool handle for a tool including a ferrule member having a socket portion open at one end thereof, said handle comprising: (a) a handle member including a tool end section at one end thereof and a hand gripping section toward the other end thereof,   (b) said tool end section being elongate to extend into the socket portion and including an outer circumferential surface having an inner end and an outer end,   (c) shock absorbing means located intermediate the inner and outer ends of the tool end section along said outer circumferential surface,   (d) said shock absorbing means being effective to provide a tightened fit between the ferrule member and the tool end section when the ferrule member is slidingly displaced over the outer circumferential surface of the tool end section,   (e) the tool end section includes releasable locking means for fixing the position of the ferrule once the elongate tool end section is firmly extended into the socket portion,   (f) the releasable locking means includes a button element pivotally disposed in an elongate recess formed in said outer circumferential surface of the tool end section and biassing means located on the tool end section to urge one end of the button element outwardly with respect to the tool end section,   (g) the biassing means includes an O-ring located in a circumferential groove and spanning the elongate recess,   (h) said button element having one end attached to said spanning O-ring which urges one end of the button element outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the tool end section.